CHAPTER IV.
A CERTIFICATE OF CHARACTER.
Three or four days after the morning of Jake Elliott's release, Samled his little company into Camp Jackson and reported their arrival.
As Sam had anticipated, General Jackson decided at once that the boyscould become useful to him only by volunteering in some of thecompanies already organized, and Sam began to look about for a companyin which he and Tom would be acceptable. The other boys were of coursefree to choose for themselves, and Sam declined to act for them in thematter. As for Joe the black boy, he knew how to make himself usefulin any command, as a servant, and he was resolved to follow Sam'sfortunes, wherever they might lead.
"You see Mas' Sam," he said, "you'n Mas' Tommy might git yer selvesinto some sort o' scrape or udder, an' then yer's sho' to need Joe togit you out. Didn't Joe git you out 'n dat ar fix dar in de drifpilemore'n a yeah ago? Howsomever, 'taint becomin' to talk 'bout dat,'cause your fathah he dun pay me fer dat dar job, he is. But you'llneed Joe any how, an' wha you goes Joe goes, an' dey aint no gettinroun' dat ar fac, nohow yer kin fix it."
On the very morning of Sam's arrival, as he was beginning his searchfor a suitable command in which to enlist, he met Tandy Walker, thecelebrated guide and scout, whose memory is still fondly cherished inthe southwest for his courage, his skill and his tirelessperseverance. Tandy was now limping along on a rude crutch, with oneof his feet bandaged up.
Sam greeted him heartily and asked, of course, about his hurt, whichTandy explained as the result of "a wrestle he had had with an axe,"meaning that he had cut his foot in chopping wood. He tarried but amoment with Sam, excusing himself for his hurried departure on theground that he had been sent for by General Jackson. Having heardSam's story and plans Tandy limped on, and was soon ushered intoJackson's inner apartment.
When the general saw him he exclaimed--
"What, you're not on the sick list are you, Walker?"
"Well no, not adzac'ly, giner'l, but I ain't adzac'ly a _walker_ now,fur all that's my name."
"What's the matter?" asked Jackson.
"Nothin', only I've dun split my foot open with a axe, giner'l."
"That is very unfortunate," replied Jackson, "very unfortunate,indeed."
"Yes, it aint adzac'ly what you might call _lucky_, giner'l."
"It certainly isn't!" said Jackson, a smile for a moment taking theplace of the look of vexation which his face wore; "and it isn't luckyfor me either, for I need you just now."
"I'm sorry, giner'l, if ther's any work to be done in my line, but itcan't be helped, you know."
"Of course not. The fact is Tandy, I want something done that I can'teasily find any body else to do. I'm satisfied now that the Britishare at Pensacola and are arming Indians there, and that thetreacherous Spanish governor is harboring them on his _neutral_territory. I have proof of that now. Look at that rifle there. That'sone of the guns they have given out to Indians, and a friendly Indianbrought it to me this morning. But you know the Indians, Walker; Ican't get anything definite out of them. I _must_ find out all aboutthis affair, and you're the only man I could trust with the task."
"I b'lieve that's jist about the way the land lays, giner'l," repliedTandy, "but I'll tell you what it is; if ther' aint a _man_ here youkin tie to fur that sort o' work, ther's a purty well grown boythat'll do it up for you equal to me or anybody else, or my name aintTandy Walker, and that's what the old woman at home calls me."
A little further conversation revealed the fact that the boy alludedto was none other than our friend Sam Hardwicke. General Jacksonhesitated, expressing some doubts of Sam's qualifications for sodelicate a task. He feared that so young a person might lack thecoolness and discretion necessary, and said so. To all of this Tandyreplied:--
"You'd trust the job to me, if I could walk, wouldn't you, giner'l?"
"Certainly; no other man would be half so good."
"Well then, giner'l, lem me tell you, that Sam Hardwicke is TandyWalker, spun harder an' finer, made out'n better wool, doubled an'twisted, and _mighty keerfully waxed_ into the bargain. He's a smartone, if there ever was one. He's edicated too, an' knows books like aschool teacher. He's the sharpest feller in the woods I ever seed, an'he's got jist a little the keenest scent for the right thing to do ina tight place that you ever seed in man or boy. Better'n all, he neverloses that cool head o' his'n no matter what happens."
"That is a hearty recommendation, certainly," said the general."Suppose you send young Hardwicke to me; of course nothing must besaid of all this."
"Certainly giner'l. Nobody ever gits any news out'n my talk." And withthat Tandy made his awkward bow, his awkwarder salute, and limpedaway.